Dental instrument.



J. W. TURNER & J. LEND.

DENTAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION mzoummzs. 1915.

Patented May 23,1916.

1717/671 fora: John 7M. Turner Jbhn Lend JOHN W. TURNER, OF OAK FOREST, AND JOHN LEND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID LEND ASSIGNOR TO S'AID TURNER.

DENTAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedMay 2a, 1916.

Application filed January 23, 1915. 'Serial No. 3,942.

' States, residing at Oak Forest and Chicago,

respectively, in the county of Cool; and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for the purpose of facilitating the passing of. dental floss, or other similar cleansing agent,.. be-

tween the teeth to remove "accumulated foodparticles or other foreign matter therefrom.

. In the present invention we seek to provide a means for the manipulation of dental floss which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which presents no features of complication to an unskilled operator {ate provide a dental instrument having 2 means for retaining a quantity of dental floss to be used from time to time, together with means for feeding the same into position -where it may act upon the teeth; and to provide means for preserving taut the portion of dental floss which is being used. The invention further consists in numerous other featuresof construction and combinations of parts which are .hereinafter described and claimed. y

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device constructed in accordance floss, and tubular fingers 6 and 7 leading therefrom, as best shown in Fig. 1. Access to the interior of the handle for placing therein a supply of floss is effected by removing an end cap 8 fitted with a knob or other suitable member 9 to which one end of the floss 10 may be conveniently attached.

The floss is represented as placed within the device in theform of a ball or skein 11, preferably wrapped within a'covering 12, such as wax paper, to prevent contamination from outside sources. One end of the floss is threaded through the handle and the tubu lar finger 6, as appears in Fig. 1, and then acrossv to the other finger 7, the portion so stretched between the two fingers being intended for use to cleanse the teeth.

The tubularfinger 6: is equipped with a flange or head 13 atitsouter end, as is also thefinger Upon each of these fingers is arrangeda sleeve 14' capable of executing a sliding and rotary movement. These fingers are each slightly enlarged toward its outer end, so that movement of the sleeve 14 to the extreme end of each finger is accompanied by an increased frictional resistance.

' We provide. in the finger fitwo leading fromthe hoilow interior of the tube tothe outerside thereof, and through which the floss 10 is threaded, as indicated inFig. 2. Movement of the sleeve 14 to the position indicated by the dotted lines. results in a tight wedging of the section of floss lying exteriorly between the openings 15, thereby'xlocking the floss against pulling move ment.

The tubular finger 7 is provided with but a single opening 16, corresponding to the openings 15 in the finger 6. Through this opening 16 the floss passes as indicated in Fig. 3. When the sleeve 14 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, the section of floss passing through to the outside of the finger 7 is clamped and wedged in the manner shown in the said figure.

During use, it is contemplated that each sleeve 14 will be moved into clamping position,,so that the section of floss stretched.

taut, so that it may be passed against or be- I the floss is usually dilficult and clumsily effected', so that the 'use'of an instrument, suchas has been described, is highly desirable. It

is, of course, contemplated that anyosuitable floss or other similar cleansing agent may be used in connectionwith the device in substantially the'manner set forth.

We claim: r

4 1. A dental instrument comprising, in combination, a pair of hollow fingers adaptv ved to guide therewithin and hold therebetween a section of floss in operative position,

. tially as described.

, Copies of this patent maybe obtainedior.

each of said fingers being "provided with aplurality of openings through which the floss may be looped to present a portion 2. A dental instrument comprising, in combination, a pair of fingers adapted to hold therebetvveen a section of floss, each of said fingers being provided With a plurality of openings through which, the floss may be looped to present a portion thereof elite riorly of said fingers,'and means for engaging the looped portion of said floss lying eX teriorly of said fingers to lock the same 30' ;against movement,

substantially as de; scribed.

3. A dental instrument comprising, in combination, a pair of hollow fingers adapted to hold therebetween a-seetion of floss in 35 operative position, each of said finggrs being provided ith a plurality of openings through which the floss may be looped to present a portion thereofe xteriorly of said slightly greater diameter in the plane ofsaid openings,.'and-a sleeve on eaohfof said fingers arranged to engage With'the looped portion of said floss lying exteriorly of the fingers to lock the same movement,. substanr'i tially as described.-

JOHN- W. T R E JOHN LEND. Witnesses I GERARD L. Horn, MARIE H. TURNER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Paten,t:,;

Washington; D. G, 

